Left to right: Gina Reed, of UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education; Harlan Coomes, Master Brewers Certificate Program graduate; Charlie Bamforth, distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of Food Science and Technology; and Glen Fox, Anheuser-Busch endowed professor of malting and brewing sciences
Beer Tasting With the Experts
When you know what beer you like, why not make it yourself?
That’s what Harlan Coomes, a 2019 graduate of the Master Brewers Certificate Program, did.
“I developed a taste for English beer and kind of became hooked on U.K. styles of beer, including Irish ales and things like that,” said Coomes. “Now I’ve come full circle where I come across something I like and I’m a brewer — I can make that.”
He recently made two versions of the English beer Courage Best Bitter. It was originally created by English brewer, John Courage, in the late 18th century, and became a personal favorite of Coomes’. Wanting to recreate it, he tapped into the knowledge he gained from the Master Brewers Program, and got a few pointers from Charlie Bamforth, distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of Food Science and Technology.
Then, just prior to the shelter-in-place orders in California, Coomes joined Bamforth and Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences Glen Fox for a tasting.
“The fun parts of brewing beer [are that] it makes people happy and it’s fun to make something that you can share,” said Coomes. “That’s really why I like doing it.”
In this video, produced by UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education, Bamforth and Fox taste Coomes’ beer and offer their reviews:
